Rural Poverty

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Cabinet committees and government policy and advisory units or bodies have consideration of rural poverty specifically within their remit.

Lord Whitty: The Government are committed to reducing poverty in both rural and urban areas.
	Besides the Government's general anti-poverty policies, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has an objective to enhance opportunity and tackle social exclusion in rural areas. The Government's recent spending review also set a PSA target to reduce the gap in productivity between the least well-performing quartile of rural areas and the English median by 2006, and to improve the accessibility of services for rural people. It is the Government's objective to cater for the needs of individuals, families and communities in both rural and urban areas.
	The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Rural Renewal (DA(RR)) has a remit to oversee the development and implementation of the Government's policies on the rural economy and rural communities, while the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Social Exclusion and Regeneration (DA(SER)) has a remit to oversee the development and implementation of the Government's policies on social exclusion, neighbourhood renewal, and area-based initiatives.
	The Countryside Agency is a statutory body which has within its remit the responsibility to conserve and enhance the countryside and to promote social equity and economic opportunity for the people who live there.

Rural Poverty

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What policy initiatives they have taken since 1997 to alleviate rural poverty in England and Wales.

Lord Whitty: Policy towards rural poverty is a part of the Government's overall strategy to tackle deprivation and social exclusion and deliver high quality services for everyone. Initiatives to tackle poverty, deprivation and social exclusion, such as the Connexions service or Sure Start, are piloted in rural as well as urban areas so that in developing policies and disseminating best practice, rural impacts are fully taken into account.
	It must be pointed out that poverty levels are generally lower in rural areas and tend to be hidden within largely prosperous areas. This makes it difficult to quantify and target those who need help. Defra is undertaking work on this with partners.
	The Government have introduced a series of initiatives specifically to develop rural areas with a dynamic and inclusive economy, strong rural communities and fair access to services:
	(i) A new policy framework to provide a fair deal on services, help in regenerating the rural economy, and a strong voice for rural communities, set out in the Rural White Paper, accompanied by £1 billion of additional funding in 2001–04 and underpinned by Defra's target for increased productivity and improved access to vital public services for all rural people.
	(ii) Increased opportunities for access and enjoyment of the countryside through a comprehensive overhaul of legislation on access, rights of way and protection of biodiversity set out in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
	(iii) Creation of the role of Rural Advocate—currently Ewen Cameron, also Chairman of the Countryside Agency—who attends meetings of the new Cabinet sub-committee and acts as a voice for rural concerns within and outside government.
	(iv) Setting up the Rural Affairs Forum for England to ensure that key rural stakeholders are involved throughout the policy-making process.
	The £1.6 billion, seven-year England Rural Development Programme to help farmers and other rural businesses diversify and obtain support for conserving and enhancing the countryside contributes to the same objective.

Age Discrimination

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have a policy against ageism in employment.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: We have made a pledge to tackle age discrimination and we are committed to introducing age legislation covering employment, vocational training and guidance by 2006.
	We are already encouraging employers to adopt non-ageist employment practices through our Age Positive Campaign. The campaign raises employers' awareness of the business benefits of an age diverse workforce and encourages a flexible approach to retirement to open up choice and opportunity for individuals to stay in work longer.
	In 1999 we published the Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment which sets out the standards for non-ageist approaches to recruitment, training, promotion, redundancy and retirement. The code was developed with leading organisations, including the CBI, TUC, the Employers Forum on Age and Age Concern. Evaluation shows that from 1999 to 2001 the number of companies using age in recruitment had already fallen from 27 per cent to 13 per cent and the number of companies having a policy against employing older workers had dropped from 14 per cent to 7 per cent.
	Older workers have a wealth of skills and experience that can benefit individual businesses and the economy as a whole. Our policies will help to improve further the employment rate of people over 50, which has risen considerably since 1997.

Service Families: Children's Education

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are content with the rules relating to the admission of children of services families to maintained schools in England when the parents return to England from duty abroad; and, in particular, whether they are content with the requirement that the family should have been back in England for six weeks before places can be reserved for their children.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: There are no rules about admission to maintained schools that relate specifically to service families. Nor is there a requirement for service families to be back in England for six weeks before places can be reserved for their children.
	All parents have the right to express a preference for the school they wish their child to attend. But service families, in common with all parents who apply for school places outside the normal time of admission, may find it difficult to obtain places in their preferred schools, as popular schools will already have filled all their places.
	Admission authorities are not allowed to reserve places for blocks of children from service families but may allocate places to such children in advance of their families return to the UK if the Ministry of Defence can supply details of where the family will be living. The statutory Code of Practice on School Admissions, currently being revised following the new Education Act 2002, also advises local education authorities and school admission authorities to ensure that the needs of service families are taken into account.

Physical Activity for Older People

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What conclusions were reached by the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Physical Activity for Older People; whether those conclusions have been discussed by Ministers; which departments will implement those proposals; what progress has been made in implementing those proposals; and what funding has been made available for the purpose.

Baroness Blackstone: The working group made the following recommendations which were presented to the Cabinet Committee on Older People: a national focus point to oversee the promotion of physical activity for older people; education and training to reduce the shortfall in trained individuals to deliver physical activity for older people; and investment in activity for people in residential and day centre settings. Ministers will be looking at these recommendations alongside other initiatives.
	In addition, the Department of Health is providing funding for a programme of local exercise action pilots (LEAP) with £2.5 million. The programme is being developed with Sport England and the Countryside Agency, with support from my department, the Local Government Association, the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Transport. There will be one pilot in each of the nine regions in England, led by primary care trusts. Its aim is to test out different community approaches to increasing access to physical activity. One of the target groups will be older people.

Angling: Lottery Sports Fund Grants

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What sums have been invested in the activities of coarse fishing and game fishing from the lottery money of the Sports Council for each year since 1997.

Baroness Blackstone: Figures for the sum of Lottery Sports Fund grants invested in coarse and game fishing are not available. The Lottery Sports Fund has awarded the following grants to the sport of angling since 1997 which will include grants towards coarse and game fishing:
	
		
			 Financial year Number of grants Grant amount 
			 1999–2000 15 £59,547 
			 2000–01 31 £111,570 
			 2001–02 31 £116,519 
			 2002–03 15 £53,076 
			  
			 Total 92 £340,712

Angling: Sport England Funding

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What sums have been invested in coarse and game fishing from the Sports Council's Exchequer funding to implement and support coarse and game fishing for each year since 1997.

Baroness Blackstone: Figures for the sum of Exchequer funding invested in coarse and game fishing from Sport England are not available. Sport England have granted the following sums of Exchequer funding to the National Federation of Anglers and the Salmon and Trout Association for investment in various angling disciplines for each year since 1997:
	
		
			 Financial Year National Federation of Anglers Salmon and Trout Association 
			 1996–97 £25,000 £17,500 
			 1997–98 £25,000 £17,500 
			 1998–99 £25,000 £25,000 
			 1999–2000 £27,500 £27,000 
			 2000–01 £45,625 £25,000 
			 2001–02 £80,500 £32,250 
			 2002–03 £29,250 £29,250 
			  
			 Total £257,875 £173,500

Angling: Sport England Funding

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To what extent has the Sports Council assisted the Handicapped Anglers Trust and the English Disabled Fly Fishers from (a) its lottery monies and (b) its Exchequer Funding for each year since 1997.

Baroness Blackstone: Since 1997 neither the Handicapped Anglers Trust nor the English Disabled Fly Fishers have received either grants from the Lottery Sport Fund or Exchequer funding from Sport England. Exchequer funding is specifically directed to the governing bodies of sport rather than to individual organisations.
	In 1996 the Handicapped Anglers Trust received a grant from the Lottery Sports Fund of £20,674 for the purchase of 'wheelyboats' for placement throughout England for the use of disabled anglers.

Army: Non-natural Deaths

Lord Ashley of Stoke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many alleged suicides there were in each regiment and barracks in the Army for the past two years, and
	Whether they will investigate if bullying was a factor in any alleged suicide in the Army, and
	What is the investigatory procedure that is carried out when a non-natural death occurs in the Army, and
	Whether they will ensure that those regiments and barracks with the highest number of suicides a year are visited by independent investigators, and that an annual report is made to Parliament on suicides in the Army, and
	Whether they will give a commitment that every non-natural death in the Army will immediately be fully investigated and, in all circumstances, the findings will be given to the family without delay, and
	Whether they will appoint an ombudsman to whom all suicides and allegations of bullying in the army could be referred.

Lord Bach: In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, cause of death can only be determined by Her Majesty's coroner and in Scotland by the Procurator Fiscal. Consequently, the Ministry of Defence's official suicide statistics only include those where a suicide verdict has been awarded by a coroner and do not include cases awaiting coroners' inquests or those where other verdicts have been awarded. There were nine suicides of Army personnel in 2000 and five in 2001. The regiments and locations, at time of death, of these personnel are shown in the table below.
	
		
			 Year Regiment Location 
			 2000 Intelligence Corps Warrington 
			  Cheshire Regiment Newport 
			  Blues and Royals Windsor 
			  Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Cyprus 
			  Royal Artillery Scunthorpe 
			  Royal Logistics Corps Krefeld, Germany 
			  Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Colchester 
			  Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Ashington 
			  Staffordshire Regiment Cyprus 
			 2001 Scots Dragoon Guards Cumbria 
			  Devonshire and Dorset Regiment Hounslow 
			  Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire Strensall 
			  Duke of Wellington's Regiment Osnabruck, Germany 
			  Royal Corps of Signals Haverfordwest 
		
	
	Bullying and harassment of any kind will not be tolerated in the Army and any such allegations will be thoroughly investigated, irrespective as to whether such behaviour was allegedly linked to a non-natural death or not. If such allegations are proven, appropriate action will be taken against those involved.
	All non-natural deaths in the Army are fully investigated. Primacy for such investigations lies with the local civilian police force, which would usually be supported by the appropriate service police authority or Ministry of Defence police and other agencies as required. Where a death occurs overseas, the military authorities act in accordance with local legal requirements. Families are kept informed of developments either through the civilian police or Army authorities. They are also entitled to receive, on request, a copy of the board of inquiry report into a death, which will be forwarded as soon as possible after completion, subject to any minimum security and disclosure requirements.
	The Ministry of Defence currently has no plans to make an annual report to Parliament on suicides in the Army or to appoint an ombudsman to whom all allegations of suicide and bullying could be referred.

Defence Stores Management

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the objectives and financial benefits of the cancelled Defence Stores Management Solution when the programme was approved.

Lord Bach: The objectives of the Defence Stores Management Solution were to manage the single service inventories as a single defence inventory, to build a single system to replace the existing Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force systems, and to provide a deployed inventory management capability. The £650 million project was suspended on grounds of affordability, against estimated net savings of £650 million over a 10 year period.

Defence Stores Management

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the Ministry of Defence will now meet the objectives of the cancelled Defence Stores Management Solution programme.

Lord Bach: Following the suspension of the Defence Stores Management Solution (DSMS) project, the department commissioned a review by McKinsey and Company to examine how it could secure maximum benefit from the Defence Logistics Organisation while safeguarding, or, where possible, enhancing service delivery to the front line. McKinsey identified process changes and short-term efficiencies that will not require the full functionality DSMS but will reduce the consumables and capital spares purchase across defence. Further requirements, including the continuing need for a deployed inventory management capability, will be addressed as part of a wider end-to-end review of the logistics process, involving the Defence Logistics Organisation, front-line commands and industry, which should be completed by mid-2003.

Accidents Involving Police Cars

Lord Campbell of Croy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 11 July (WA 101), what action they are considering to help reduce the number of accidents involving police cars.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: We welcome the recognition by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) that they must work to reduce the number of accidents involving police vehicles.
	Measures already in place include a new police driver training course, introduced in December 2000. An essential element of the course is that officers should recognise the need to give priority to public safety above all other considerations such as attending an incident or apprehending a suspect. Where pursuits are concerned, there is a nationally agreed ACPO pursuit code of practice and it is already police policy to consider continuously the consequences of a pursuit and whether to break it off. Operational measures to avoid pursuits or curtail them include the use of helicopters, the early deployment of tyre deflation devices across the carriageway, and tactical pursuit and containment in which a number of police vehicles box in the target vehicle and bring it safely to a halt.
	ACPO are working closely with the Police Complaints Authority to identify why there appears to be an upward trend in police vehicle accidents and how this might be avoided. Useful information can be expected from the increasing use by forces of automatic data recorders (ADR) and vehicle accident data recorders (VADR). The ADR and VADR operate in a similar way to aircraft black boxes, providing data on such issues as speed, gear changes, braking, vehicle performance and the use of blue lights.

Forensic Pathology Services

Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any plan for the provision of forensic pathology services in England and Wales.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Forensic pathologists play a crucial role in the criminal justice system. Their principal function is the conduct of post-mortem examinations in cases of suspicious or sudden deaths to determine the cause and time of death. This information is critical to homicide investigations.
	We have now seen the report of the independent review of the provision of forensic pathology services, which we commissioned last year.
	The review recommended that the decline in numbers of forensic pathologists should be reversed through a sustained training programme; improved administrative arrangements should be put in place to monitor service levels and ensure that standards are maintained; and steps should be taken to ensure that there are improved facilities for the conduct of post-mortem examinations.
	The Government is considering this report and will reach decisions after the review has been discussed by the Policy Advisory Board on forensic pathology.

Advisory Group on Programmes of Study for Potential Citizens

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, and, if so, when they intend to provide extra resources to local education authorities and further education colleges and other institutions in order to allow them to make extra provision for the teaching of English to speakers of other languages and for citizenship classes in order to meet the requirements of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill.

Lord Filkin: An independent advisory group has been appointed to advise on the content and implementation of programmes of study for potential citizens to enable them to comply with the requirements of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill. Among other things, the group has been asked to advise on the levels of achievement necessary to comply with the proposed requirements. Until such time as the Government have received, and reached a decision on, the advisory group's proposals, and estimated what extra demand might be generated by them, it will not be possible to identify with any precision the resources which may be needed by local education authorities or further education colleges.

National Insurance: Employers' Contributions

Lord Butler of Brockwell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why employers are required to pay national insurance contributions for employees over state pension age but employees are not required to make contributions.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Employers' national insurance contributions have been a feature of the national insurance scheme since it was introduced. It is only right that employers should pay the same level of national insurance contributions regardless of the age of the employee. To introduce a system that provided a clear financial advantage in employing a particular group of employees based on their age would be unfair to other employees and contrary to the universal nature of the scheme. At the same time it is right that employees should cease to pay contributions once they reach pension age given the direct link between their contributions and their entitlement to state retirement pension.

Diego Garcia

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether suspected terrorists are being held on the British Territory of Diego Garcia; if so, what are their names and nationalities; under whose jurisdiction they fall; and when they will be brought before a court.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: No suspected terrorists are being held on Diego Garcia.

British Nationals Resident in Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have approached the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe High Commissioner on National Minorities with regard to the human rights of the British minority in the Republic of Ireland, in line with the approach to the High Commission by the Republic of Ireland with regard to the Irish national minority in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government have made no approach to the OSCE's High Commissioner on National Minorities concerning British nationals resident in Ireland.

Senegal: Export of Machine Guns

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have agreed to supply general purpose machine guns to Senegal for use in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country subject to a European Union arms embargo.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Following consultations with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a licence to export general purpose machine guns to Senegal. These arms will be used by the Senegalese armed forces in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
	DRC is subject to an EU arms embargo, imposed by a declaration of 7 April 1993. The embargo was put in place mainly to ensure the safety of international troops and civilian personnel deployed in the DRC. The decision to grant an exemption does not affect Her Majesty's Government's continued support for the EU arms embargo on the DRC.
	The decision to permit export was made on the basis that the equipment is needed by bona fide UN peacekeepers and is proportionate to the humanitarian needs of the Senegalese peacekeepers.
	Her Majesty's Government fully support the Senegalese troops deployed to the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC. The decision underlines our continued support for the work being done by peacekeepers within the country.

United Kingdom Special Representative for Georgia

Lord Kirkhill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who will be the United Kingdom Special Representative for Georgia.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government are committed to finding a way to help Georgia become prosperous, stable and able to live in harmony with its neighbours. This is why I am glad that the Foreign Secretary has appointed Sir Brian Fall as the UK's Special Representative for Georgia, with effect from 1 October. In this capacity Sir Brian will also be the UK Senior Representative on the Group of Friends of the UN Secretary General on Georgia. Sir Brian was HM ambassador to Moscow from 1992 to 95. His experience of the region and his diplomatic skills will be invaluable in helping him fulfil this role.

Azerbaijan and Armenia: OSCE Arms Embargo

Lord Kirkhill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will continue to uphold the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe embargo on the export of weapons and military equipment to Azerbaijan.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government remain committed to the OSCE arms embargo against both Azerbaijan and Armenia, which we interpret as covering all goods and technology controlled under entries in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, commonly known as the military list.
	In September 2002, the Government approved an export licence application for demining vests for the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Actions.
	In January 2002 the Government approved a similar request for protective jackets for demining operations to Azerbaijan.
	The decision was made in accordance with our practice occasionally to make an exemption to our interpretation of the embargo by approving exports of non-lethal military goods to humanitarian, media or peacekeeping organisations where it is clear that the embargo was not intended to prevent those exports and there is a strong humanitarian case for them.

Iraq: Demining Equipment Licence

Lord Kirkhill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What goods on the Military List have recently been approved for export to Iraq.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a licence to export demining equipment to the United Nations Office for Project Services in mine clearance operations in northern Iraq. The export included an electronic hand held exploder that appears on the Military List. The conclusion that this export does not represent a proliferation threat has been reached after careful assessment.
	The UN Iraq Sanctions Committee approved this export to Iraq under the Oil for Food programme (OFF). Under OFF, Iraq is allowed to export unlimited quantities of oil to fund the purchase of humanitarian goods. The export is consistent with the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria.

European Union: Forthcoming Council Business

Lord Barnett: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for October; and what are the major European Union events for the period between 31 October 2002 and April 2003.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: October 2002
	1– Brussels—GAERC.
	2– Brussels—Meeting of the Praesidium.
	3–4 Brussels—Convention Plenary: Subsidiarity & Legal Personality working group conclusions; interim reports on Charter & National Parliaments working groups.
	3–4 Brussels—Transport & Telecommunications Council.
	8– Brussels—ECOFIN.
	8– Brussels—Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council.
	10– Copenhagen—EU/India Summit.
	11–12 Nyborg—Internal Market, Consumer Affairs & Industry Meeting (Ministerial Informal).
	14– Brussels—Fisheries Council.
	14–15 Brussels—Justice & Home Affairs & Civil Protection Council.
	16– Brussels—EU Commission: Annual Report on Candidate Countries.
	17– Brussels—Environment Council.
	17– Brussels—Meeting of the Praesidium.
	20– Luxembourg—EU Trade (Ministers Informal).
	21–22 Brussels—General Affairs Council.
	24–25 Brussels—European Council
	28–29 Brussels—Meeting of the Praesidium.
	28–29 Aalborg—Patent Protection: Ministers & EU Commissioners.
	28–29 Brussels—Convention plenary: Giscard to release his constitutional text; Charter working group conclusions; preliminary reports on conclusions of Economic Governance and Complementary Competences working groups.
	
		European Calendar: November 2002–April 2003
		
			 Date Location Event 
			 November 2002   
			 4 Brussels Culture Council 
			 5 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 6 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 7 Brussels Health Council 
			 7–8 Brussels Convention Plenary– Complementary Competences and Economic Governance working group conclusions; preliminary reports on conclusions of Simplification, National Parliaments, Security and Justice working groups. 
			 11–12 Brussels Education, Youth & Culture Council 
			 14–15 Brussels Internal Market, Consumer Affairs & Tourism Council 
			 18–19 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations Council (+ Defence) 
			 21 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 25–26 Brussels Budget Meeting 
			 25–26 Brussels Industry & Energy Council 
			 28 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 28–29 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs & Civil Protection Council 
			  
			 December 2002   
			 2 Brussels Meeting on Macro Economic Dialogue (Ministerial Troika) 
			 3 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 2–3 Brussels Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council 
			 4 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 5 Brussels Transport & Telecom Council 
			 6 Brussels Transport & Telecom Council 
			 9 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 10 Brussels Environment Council 
			 12–15 Copenhagen European Council 
			 16–17 Brussels Fisheries Council 
			 19 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 20 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs & Civil Protection Council 
			 20–21 Brussels Convention Plenary–External Action and Defence working group conclusions 
			  
			 January 2003   
			 9 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 9 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council (to be confirmed) 
			 16 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 20 Brussels EUROGROUP (evening) 
			 20 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 20–21 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 21 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 24 Nafplion Employment Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 27–28 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations Council 
			 28 Brussels EU-ASEAN Ministerial 
			 30 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			  
			 February 2003   
			 5 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 6–7 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 10–11 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council (to be confirmed) 
			 13 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 17 Brussels EUROGROUP (evening) 
			 18 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 20 Brussels Education, Youth & Culture Council (to be confirmed) 
			 22 Thessalonika Energy Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 24–25 Brussels General Affairs & External Relatons Council Agriculture & Fisheries 
			 26 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 27–28 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 27–28 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs Council 
			 28 Brussels Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council 
			  
			 March 2003   
			 3 Luxembourg Competitiveness Council 
			 6 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 6 Luxembourg Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council 
			 6 Luxembourg EUROGROUP (evening) 
			 7 Luxembourg ECOFIN 
			 7 Luxembourg Transport, Telecom & Energy Council 
			 13 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 14–15 Athens (Informal Defence Meeting) 
			 17–18 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 17–18 Luxembourg Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 18–19 Luxembourg General Affairs & External Relations Council 
			 21 Luxembourg European Council 
			 27 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 27 Veria Justice and Home Affairs Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 27–28 Luxembourg Transport, Telecom & Energy Council 
			 28 Athens EU-Rio Group, EU-MERCOSUR 
			 28–29 Veria Informal Justice & Home Affairs (Veria) 
			 31 Luxembourg Agriculture & Fisheries Council (to be confirmed) 
			  
			 April 2003   
			 2 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 3–4 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 4 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs 
			 5 Lisbon Europe–Africa Summit 
			 5 Ioannina Ministerial Meeting on Education (Informal) 
			 10 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 11–13 Chania ECOFIN (Informal) 
			 14 Brussels General Affairs & External Relations 
			 14 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries 
			 16 Brussels Signature of The Accession (Provisional Date) 
			 23 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 24–25 Brussels Convention Plenary

Northern Ireland: Police Resources

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that the Police Service of Northern Ireland is sufficiently resourced in manpower and funding to cope with the security and crime situation.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Government continue to look to the Chief Constable's advice and are guided by his assessment of policing requirements. The Government welcome the human resource planning strategy produced by the PSNI and approved by the Policing Board which will help to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the PSNI. My right honourable friend is carefully considering the plan's financial implications in view of the Government's desire to support the Chief Constable and the Policing Board in its delivery.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they propose to make appointments to fill the vacancies on the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and whether they will ensure that any appointments reflect the substantial sections of the community not represented on the commission.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: I shall write to my noble friend when a decision has been made on this matter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

London Traffic Congestion Charge: Payment Options

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Whether there are any plans to site pay stations for the London congestion charge within the precincts of the House of Lords.

Lord Tordoff: The noble Lord makes a useful suggestion. Transport for London states that it will be possible to pay the congestion charge at retail outlets across Greater London, though it is not yet clear what form these "retail outlets" will take and whether it will be possible to locate one within the Palace of Westminster. Other options for payment outlined by Transport for London include payment by credit or debit card at self-service machines, and the purchase of weekly, monthly or annual "season tickets". Once we have more detail on these options, the two Houses will explore ways to facilitate payment by Members and staff. I shall write to the noble Lord again when the position is clearer.